Propeller mount



5. E. SLOCUM PRQPELLER MOUNT Aug. 11. 1925. 1,549,564

Filed June 12. 1923 Patented Aug. 11, 1925.

UNITED STATES STEPHEN E. SLOCUM, 0F ARDMORE, PENNSYLVANIA.

PROPELLER MOUNT.

Application filed June 12, 1923. Serial No. 644,932.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEPHEN E. SLocUM, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ardmore, in the county of Montgomery and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inPropeller Mounts; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, ach as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to a propelling means for water craft suchas small pleasure boats and ocean vessels and has for its object tominimize the resistance of the flow to the propeller and direct the flowtherefrom and prevent rotation of the wake.

A further object of the invention is to locate the strut in the rear ofthe propeller and thereby prevent its obstructing the flow of the waterthereto.

The invention also has for its object to construct the strut with ahydrofoil sect-ion with the result of minimizing the resistance to flowas well as directing the flow from the propeller and preventing eddyingformation and rotation of the wake.

A further object of the invention is to compensate for the inclinationof the propeller shaft by providing a guide plate whereby to direct thewater and thereby materially assist the action of the propeller.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent and suggest themselves asthe nature of the invention is understood.

While the drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention it is to beunderstood that in adapting the same to meet diiferent conditions andrequirements, various changes in the form, proportion, arrangement, andminor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing fromthe nature of the invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the applicationFigure 1 is a side view of the stern portion of a boat illustrative ofthe invention,

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view showing the parts on a larger scale, thepropeller being omitted and the propeller shaft being indicated by thedotted lines,

Figure 3 is a front view, the circular dotted lines indicating theposition of the propeller, and

Figure l is a sectional view of a strut.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and designated in the several viewsof the drawings by likereference characters.

The numeral 1 designates the hull or body of a boat, 2 is a propellerdisposed aft beneath the stern or a wing screw in the case of a twinscrew vessel, and 3 the propeller shaft which may, or may not, beinclined to the horizontal. These parts may be of any usual constructionand arrangement.

The strut forming a mount for the rear end of the propeller shaft 3comprises a hub 4 forming a bearing for the propeller shaft, and arms 5and is located in the rear of the propeller 2 so as not to obstruct theflow thereto, and likewise to prevent rotation of the wake. As shownmost clearly in Figure 4, the arms comprising the strut have ahydro-foil outline in cross section which results in reducing theresistance and in directing the flow from the propeller as well asobviating eddying and preventing rotation of the wake. By locating thestrut in the rear of the propeller, it does not impede the flow of thewater thereto and assists ma terially in directing the flow therefrom.

To enable the use of a relatively large propeller and to compensate in ameasure for the inclination of the shaft 3, a guide plate 6 is carriedby the strut and is disposed below the propeller and curveslongitudinally and laterally, whereby to direct the flow from thepropeller. Specifically this guide plate diverts the flow of water froman inclined direction to a horizontal direction and thereby increasesthe etficiency of propulsion. The guide plate extends forwardly of thestrut so as to underlap the propeller and inthe preferable construction,the guide plate is of hydrofoil outline in cross section. The inventionis such as to be applied to craft of every nature impelled by means of ascrew propeller, the purpose being to facilitate the flow to thepropeller and direct the flow therefrom and to prevent eddying androtation of the wake.

What is claimed is:

1. Water craft having a propeller disposed beneath its stern, a shaftfor said propeller, a strut located in the rear of the propeller andconstituting a bearing for said shaft, and said strut having armssubstan tially of hydrofoil outline whereby they will receive the watertangentially as it leaves the propeller and change the direction of flowto a direction straight astern,

said strut being arranged with but single arm below said bearing, thelatter arm being vertical with its axis intersecting the bearing.

2. ater craft having a propeller disposed beneath the stern, and meansbeneath the stern substantially of hydrofoil outline to receive thewater tangentially as it leaves the propeller and change the directionof flow to a direct-ion straight astern, said means being provided witha single arm below said bearing, the arm being vertical with its axisintersecting the bearing.

3. Water craft having propeller, and a guide means associated therewitharranged to divert the flow of water therefrom from an inclineddirection to horizontal direction to increase the efiiciency ofpropulsion, said guide means having an arm extending below and invertical alinementwith the bearing, and said arm at its lower end havinga guide plate.

a. ater craft having a propeller disposed beneath the stern, a shaft forsaid propeller, a strut located in the rear of the propeller having ahub constituting a bearing for the shaft, arms radiating from the hub,said arms being substantially of hydrofoil outline whereby they willreceive the water tangentially as it leaves the propeller and change thedirection of flow to a direction straight astern, said arms and hubbeing integral, and a guide plate integral with one of said armsarranged to direct the flow of water from an inclined direction from thepropeller to a horizontal direction to thereby increase the efiiciencyof propulsion.

5. ater craft having a propellor disposed beneath the stern, a shaft forsaid propeller, a strut located in the rear of the propeller having ahub constituting a bearing for the shaft, arms radiating from the hub,said arms being substantially of hydrofoil outline whereby they willreceive the water tangentially as it leaves the propeller and change thedirection of flow to a direction straight astern, said arms and hubbeing integral, and a guide plate integral with one of said armsarranged to direct the flow of water from an inclined direction from thepropeller to a horizontal direction to thereby increase the efiiciencyof propulsion, and said guide plate being substantially horizontallydisposed and extending on opposite side of the axis of said hub, andbeing curved both longitudinally and transversely.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

STEPHEN E. SLOCUM.

